Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-23
OLD RAGGLES.
Written for this paper.l

| ediCor, knew.
Tradition had it that his appearance was
coeval with its birth, and that at that prehis-
toric period Raggles constituted in himself
the entire local staff.
| But SO far back as any one now connected
with the paper could remember, Raggles had
been fixture at the telegraph EDITORS desk.
It was admitted on all sides that he must
have some hold on the powers, which it was
dimIy limited was the possession of certain
shares of stock, in order to account for the
| Difference that was always shown him by
| Sharp. who had no hesitancy about rating
| every body else about the establishment
There were three of us in the telegraph
room in those days, Elwell, Raggles anu my
| self. Whatever tricks we might play ON the
old man, and they were numerous, admit,
i'll spite of his gentle kindnesses, there always
existed deep down in our hearts feeling of
the deepest respect for Raggles.
| Never a kindlier pair of eyes cleaned from
human head than those which from under
their portico of shaggy eyebrows peered
through Raggles' tortoise shell glasses. Ev-
erybody in trouble always went to Raggles
He was the silent repository of more life his
tories than firm of fashionable lawyers
Yet, strangely enough, no one was ever
able to say they were acquainted with even
a skeleton of Ragges' history
| was the only one who was. ever allowed
| to penetrate behind the curtain. The privi-
| lege was due to a serious fit of illness through
! which Raggles cared for me as il | had been
a younger brother. One day when | was
convalescent he came with a carriage and
took ME home with him for the afternoon.
Then, for the first time, learned he h.d
daughter, fresh, fair girl, rich with the
charming beauty OF a pure maidsnhood un.
contaminated by outside influences I had
not been in the house ten minutes before
was cognizant Of the idoatrous Worship with
which the old man regarded her. And it wa.
clearly returned
was never asked there again. When
once met them in the park weeks later and
attempted to renew the acquaintance, Rag
giles gave me to understand firmly, but in o
gentle, inoffe'.sive way, that was not to
presume on his former kindness.
mentioned the incident at the office, nnC
young Perkins. who did the city hall work
broke III with, ayes, I've seen her. She's a
daisy. Raggles keeps her locked up in true
Oriental style: won't allow her to speak to
man and all that sort Of thing. Some day
the bird will learn the use of its wings anG
then we will have s nsation."
Months elapsed, and as nothing occurred to
justify his prophecy it was gradually for
gotten.
Raggles, bent but rugged. kept up his worl
without break, barely taking the weeks va
cation which the rules of the office graciously
permitted the slaves of the lamp who were
expected to labor OH uncomplaininsly the re-
manning fifty-one.
Early one evening Sharp bounced into the
room and cried out: "Ragges, there has been
a horrible accident on the Midland Southern
at Piperton l have ordered our man there
to send us 1000 words When it comes fix it
mp rs quick as you can and fire it up want
to get it in the first edition. One of the bows
can help YOU, il necessary" and bounced GU:
again as if made of springs
Raggles nodded. He had charge of the
specials, while Elwell and I handled the
g"rArNI r-nss di-ratches
Somehow that evening the telegraph came
billing in until we were regularly snacged.
rs usual, OH such nights, Sharp was more
| 'eprery than ever which did not tend toward
making matters smoother
I About 10 o'clock tue FIRST of the disaster be-
gan to arrive.
Twas digging away for dear life into pile
! If telegraph when heard something like a
groan. Turning quickly, l saw Raggles
weaving in his chair.
"Catch him, quick" shouted Wilson, the
operator, from the other end of the room.
Ny desk adjoined the old mans. and
sprang toward him, but not in time 10 pre-
vent his falling head foremost to the floor,
where he lay insensible.
For a moment everything was in conf,
sion. Then the raspy voice of the managing
editor brought lis to our senses. "Lay hin, on
his back, You bloclhead; don't you see he is
only in a faint" This was to me- / had
st,u Il
and was endeavoring 10 stanch the bleeding
from q cut on the side of the head, where it
had come in contact with the table leg.
"Ewell, run around the corner for the doc
tor. Here, sprinkle little of this water in
his face. What caused it! Ought to bave
taken a rest. Told him SO month ago. He
was looking bad then"
While the chief had been busly minister
ing to the old man ana kept up his interjectu
larry fire had picked up a scrap Of telegraph
paper that had been tightly clutched in
Raggles' hand when he fell. It was n part
of the dispatch relating TO the railroad dis
aster As opened the scrap the following
caught my eve: "Among those supposed to
be fatally injured is young lady, recognized
by means of papers on her person as Miss
Gertrude Raggles. The gentleman who was
with her was instantly killed his body being
*.
l silently handed the scrap OF paper to
Sharp and turned away my head to hide the
tears of which was ASIA med, but could not
suppress.
Great God! How terrible. Poor oil,
Ragges! Pm afraid it viii kill him." couh'
hardly believe my ears. 1t was the man.
aging editors voice, but as tender and pitt.
:ul as that of a young mother. Sharp had a
heart, after all
Before anything more could be done the
doctor arrived.
1t took a good half hours work before
Ragges coIl be restored to consciousness
His first words were. any little Gerty,"
1t was Sharp's arm now that was under
his head and Sharp's voice answered tenderly
Don't give way so, old fellow. Perhaps
there i, mistake. You know how Otter
they % people mixed up i'll the earlier re-
porRs
at is no mistake 1t is my Gerty must
go TO her"
"Of course You shalt" replied Sharp, as be
assisted the old man To a seat. "Leavitt, get
your coat and hat and call carriage"
The carriage was at the door in a few
minutes and the old man placed inside.